Device for determining the position and direction of channel inlets and channel outlets in sewer manholes

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for determining the position and direction of channel inlets and channel outlets in wastewater systems that, in the horizontal plane, lead into and out of sewer manholes. To this end, a device was created that is provided in the form of a tachymeter attachment which uses a system of mirrors to enable the horizontal aiming beam of the tachymeter to be redirected to a variable depth in order to form a horizontal aiming beam that is parallel to the first. A profiled tube ( 11 ) that is attached via a frame ( 10 ) to assigned to the tachymeter ( 1 ) and reflectors are provided inside said profiled tube ( 11 ). The profiled tube is provided with a right angle and passes through the central support ( 7 ) equipped with a tubular extension ( 23 ), to which an extension consisting of individual tubes ( 15 ) that are joined to one another in a telescoping manner is assigned via a coupling ( 14 ), and the tachymeter ( 1 ), together with the profiled tube ( 11 ) and the central support ( 7 ), are mounted on the tripod ( 3 ) in a manner that enables them to rotate 360°.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device for determining the position anddirection of sewage system channel inlets and channel outlets which leadinto or out of sewer manholes in a horizontal plane.

2. The Prior Art

In practice, sewer manholes are not generally measured exactly sincehitherto either no suitable systems have been available for providinginformation about the position and direction of the channels leadinginto and out of sewer manholes sewer manholes are sewage systems or ithas been disproportionately difficult to determine horizontal directionsof inlets are of channels branching off a manhole in a horizontaldirection. For that reason, only the position and height of a sewermanhole cover are measured, and the approximate depth of the bottom ofthe sewer manhole and of the channel inlets and channel outlets aremeasured approximately with a yard stick or carpenter's gage.

This problem is dealt with by DE 33 40 317 A1 which describes ameasuring device for simultaneously defining the position and height ofpoints within cavities, especially in sewage systems, which aredifficult to access. The disclosed measuring device consists of a prismstaff with two reflective prisms mounted in corresponding frames. Thelength of the prism staff can be varied by plug-in connections ofaluminum tubes of rectangular profile and different lengths and thestaff can be rotated at the plug joints about its longitudinal axis. Apoint is arranged at the lower end of the staff for placing the staffupon the bottom of a sewer manhole or upon the bottom of a connectingchannel. By measuring the horizontal angle, the vertical angle and theoblique distance to the two reflective mirrors on the prism staff, theposition of the channel inlet can be calculated by mathematical methods.Its disadvantage resides in the fact that only the position of thechannel inlet and channel outlet can be determined with the measuringdevice; but it is not possible to determine the direction of the channelinto or out of the manhole.

DE 38 04 875 A1 discloses measuring and calibrating with electro-opticaltachymeters in which a portable reflector of the tachymeter is mountedon a perpendicular staff. The length of the perpendicular staff may bechanged steplessly. For measuring pipe conduit parts in constructiontrenches or shafts, the tip of the perpendicular staff is placed uponthe point to be measured, and the perpendicular staff is preciselypositioned vertically. The vertical positioning of the perpendicularstaff is very complicated and to obtain a precise measurement, theperpendicular staff must be maintained motionless by its user for anextended period of time. For improving the manipulation of such aperpendicular staff, DE 197 11 995 A1 discloses a perpendicular staff atthe handle and upper end of which there is provided a reflector of atachymeter with a perpendicular staff holder extending at a right angletherefrom. The perpendicular staff holder consists of a perpendicularstaff extension, a handle and a fastening device. The fastening deviceis structured as a clamp. A level slide is arranged on the extension ofthe perpendicular staff, which can be freely positioned and which isprovided with a large level for readability even from a larger distance.While this arrangement improves the handling problem of theperpendicular staff, it is only the position, but not the direction, ofchannel inlets and outlets which can be determined by this perpendicularstaff. It is, however, the planning measurements and conduitdocumentation which are required for preventing damage as a result ofsubsequent construction work.

Reference is also to be made to DE 296 03 681 U1 and DE-OS 1 623 111which respectively disclose an optical plumb line for geodesic apparatusand a method and apparatus for measuring cavities, in particularsubterranean caverns. These arrangements can also not measure thedirection of channel inlets and outlets.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a device fordetermining the position and direction of channel inlets and channeloutlets in sewer manholes which may be positioned relative to atachymeter and which avoids the disadvantages of known solutions fordetermining channel inlets and outlets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, the object is accomplished by theelements of claim 1. Advantageous solutions and special embodiments ofthe device may be taken from the subclaims.

A device was thus produced which is structured as a tachymeter cowl andwhich makes it possible by a reflector system at a variable depth todeflect the horizontal homing beam of the tachymeter to a parallelhorizontal homing beam. The device is structured such that while it isaffixed to the tachymeter it is journaled for rotation about thevertical stand axis of the tachymeter. Moreover, the device ispositioned relative to the tachymeter such that the horizontal axis ofthe device in accordance with the invention is aligned parallel to thehorizontally adjusted homing axis of the tachymeter. This precisearrangement makes it possible to shift the field of view of an observerin the vertical direction. This is made possible by the fact that thedevice is made of a profile tube which leads into a hollow centerconsole which is structured such that a tubular extension which ismounted in a vertically relative to the tachymeter, below the tripod onwhich the tachymeter and the device, in the direction of the sewermanhole to be measured and which extends into a profile tube extensionstructured as telescoping tubes mounted by a connector to the lower endof the center console. For changing the vertical length of the tubeextension, the tubes may be extended or contracted.

In another aspect of the invention, the arrangement and structure of thedevice and the connection of the device to the tachymeter as well as itsarrangement and attachment on the tripod make it possible to adjust thetachymeter by 360° relative to the associated device so that allhorizontal channel inlets and channel outlets connected to a manhole maybe measured.

The circumferential rotation or adjustability of the tachymeter isrealized by a specific journal and support. The journal/support consistsof a tripod known per se, a lower and an upper console and a middleconsole which is rotatably journaled therebetween. In the tripod whichis rigidly connected to the stand the lower console is clamping and canin turn be connected to the upper console by a latch. The tachymeter isseated on the upper console and because of its structure it is arrangedrotatably relative thereto.

The profile tube of the device in accordance with the invention isconnected to the tachymeter by a frame; on the other hand a horizontallyextending part of the profile tube extends through a recess in themiddle console the tubular vertical extension of which penetratesthrough the center opening of the tripod and of the stand and at thelower end of which there is provided the connection for the extension ofthe profile tube (telescope). The arrangement and mounting of theprofile tube with respect to the middle console is a positive orfrictional one to ensure that when the tachymeter is adjusted in acircumferential direction the device for defining the position anddirection is also rotated or pivoted.

A further essential characteristic of the invention is that the profiletube performs a dual function, i.e. the attachment of the entire devicerelative to the tachymeter and the housing within the interior of theprofile tube of reflectors for deflecting the homing beam of thetachymeter in the entire system. To this end, the profile tube, in thearea of the sighting telescope of the tachymeter, is provided with anopening so that the homing beam emitted from the tachymeter maypenetrate into, and extend through the system of the measuring device. Asecond opening in the profile tube is provided in the area of standingaxis of the tachymeter where the homing beam is deflected verticallydownward into the middle console positioned thereunder and its tubularextension. A reflector is rigidly mounted in the lowest tube fordeflecting the homing beam back into a horizontal direction for exitingthrough a lateral opening in the device in accordance with the inventionin a direction disposed parallel to the horizontally positioned homingaxis of the tachymeter.

In accordance with the invention the individual tubes forming thevertical extension of the profile tube can be extended and retracted bya drive unit in the manner of a telescope. The limited field of viewresulting from the cross-sections of the individual tubes may beenlarged by an optical system at the telescope end of the smallest tube.A light source at the end of the tube significantly improves the viewingconditions.

Advantageously, the device for determining the position and direction ofchannel inlets and channel outlets is provided with a control device foractuating the telescope drive for extending or retracting the individualtubes. To this end, there is provided a D.C. motor and a toothed beltdrive connected therewith. The D.C. motor is mounted on the upper tubeand the individual toothed belts are adhesively fastened to theindividual tubes. A worm gear transmission transmits the rotation to thetoothed belts by a toothed wheel for vertically sliding them.

Moreover, in accordance with the invention, an eccentric cam isassociated with the innermost and smallest tube at the end thereof,which is of a fixed length or, in a preferred embodiment, of variablelength. The length of the eccentric cam may be varied by joined andtelescopingly arranged tubes.

The device in accordance with the invention ensures a view in allrotational directions in a sewer manhole. Inlets and outlets may berendered visible in the horizontally positioned sighting telescope ofthe tachymeter. The depth may be read from the length of the telescope,and together with the height of the position of the tachymeter or theleveled height of the cover of the sewer manhole and the height of theinstrument there results, in the selected height relation system, theheight of the channel input or channel output. At the same time, thehorizontal direction may be read or measured at the tachymeter. An exactdetermination of the horizontal direction of the channels is thuspossible in the case where the channel extension is directed directlytowards the standing axis of the tachymeter. Where this is not the case,the exact horizontal direction of the channel, without shifting thetachymeter, can only be determined by an eccentric measurement. That isto say, the end of the tube would have to be displaced away from thestanding axis into the channel extension.

In accordance with the invention, this is accomplished by an eccentriccam provided at the end of the extended tube. A reflector or mirrorrigidly mounted in the eccentric cam horizontally deflects the homingbeam which, depending upon the way the cam is mounted, takes place tothe left or to the right by 90°. Direction and size of the deflectionare taken into consideration when calculating the horizontal directionof a given channel.

In a preferred embodiment, the eccentric cam is structured telescopinglyto make it possible variably to set the length of the eccentric cam sothat the direction and length of displaced channel inlets and channeloutlets may be determined.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWINGS

The novel features which are considered to be characteristic of theinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, in respect of its structure, construction andlay-out as well as manufacturing techniques, together with other objectsand advantages thereof, will be best understood from the followingdescription of preferred embodiments when read in connection with theappended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts the device associated with a tachymeter and a standpositioned above a sewer manhole;

FIG. 2 is a top elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts the device in an operating position with extended tubes;

FIG. 4 are schematic presentation of the arrangement of eccentric camsfor an eccentric measurement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The structure and arrangement of the device relative to a tachymeter 1as well as the arrangement and mounting of the tachymeter 1 and thedevice relative to a stand 3 positioned over a sewer manhole 4 may bedirectly seen from the overall presentation of FIG. 1. The stand 3constitutes a support for the individual functional elements of thedevice and of the tachymeter 1 which are mounted relative to each otherin or on the stand 3 such that a complete horizontal view in the sewermanhole 4 is possible in all circumferential directions. A tripod 8 isrigidly mounted on the stand 3 and supports a lower console 24, a middleconsole 7 and an upper console 6. The tachymeter 1 is rotatably mountedon the upper console 6. The device in accordance with the invention isarranged and positioned relative to the tachymeter 1 and to the middleconsole 7. This is accomplished by a frame 10 provided with a profiletube 11 which preferably is of square cross-section and structured suchthat it can be received through a recess in the middle console 7 andwhich, furthermore, is structured to have an opening directed downwardlyand disposed coaxially with respect to the standing axis of thetachymeter 1. A reflector is positioned above the opening. The middleconsole 7 positioned below the upper console 6 is provided with atubular downward extension 23 penetrating through the center of thetripod 8 and of the stand 3. Below the tubular extension 23 of themiddle console 7 there is mounted, by way of a connector 14, anextension formed of individual telescopingly connected tubes 15.

The profile tube 11 is formed by individual plug-connected partialpieces so that the profile tube 11 may be easily assembled anddisassembled. The profile tube 11 is provided with an opening 12 coaxialwith the horizontal axis of the sighting telescope 2 of the tachymeter1. Within the profile tube 11 at the deflection points, there areprovided reflectors 13, preferably structured as mirrors, such that anunimpeded view through the system is possible.

The structure of the telescopingly arranged tubes 15 is selected suchthat the smallest tube 16 is provided at its end with an exit opening 18disposed at an angle of 90° relative to the standing axis of thetachymeter 1. Also, a light source 17 is disposed at the end of the tube16, and a reflector 13 is provided in the area of its angled section.

The circumferential rotation and unimpeded adjustment of the tachymeter1 and the associated device is made possible by the middle console 7which is rotatably mounted between the lower console 24 and the upperconsole 6. This, in turn, is made possible by the lower console 24 andthe upper console 6 being rigidly connected to each other by a latch 9so that the middle console 7 including the tachymeter 1 and associatedprofile tube 11 may be rotated. The rotational movement is not impededby the latch 9 as it may be moved to a second latching position ifrequired.

Since the tubular extension 23 of the middle console 7 extends throughthe center of the stand 3 and since the profile tube 11 is arrangedabove the stand 3 relative to the tachymeter 1, the feet of the stand 3,as shown in FIG. 2, do not impede or hinder the 360° rotation of thetachymeter 1.

The presentation of FIG. 3 makes clear the operating position of thetachymeter 1 and the device associated therewith. The individual tubes15 are shown in their extended state and penetrate into the sewermanhole 4 and there position is disposed relative to a first channeloutlet or channel inlet 5. The presentation makes it clear how thestructure and arrangement of the profile tube 11 causes the field ofview of an observer looking into the sighting telescope 2 of thetachymeter 1 to be vertically directed towards the opening 18 of thetube. The rotational adjustment of the tachymeter 1 is carried out byhand. The vertical extension and retraction of the individual tubes 15is controlled by a D.C. motor with an associated toothed belt drive. Itwill be understood that other drives and transmission may also be used.The D.C. motor used in this embodiment is affixed to the upper tube 15and is operatively connected to the toothed belt drive. A toothed beltis adhesively attached to each tube 15, and a worm gear transmits therotation of the D.C. motor to the given toothed belt by means of atoothed wheel. By reversing the polarity of the motor its rotation maybe reversed. A stopper at the telescoping tubes 15 ensures thatextending the tubes 15 commences with the smallest or innermost tube 16and that it continues with the next larger tube. The drive and thestopper are suspended at opposite sides of the tubes 15 and areconnected by a counter pressure spring providing the required engagementpressure at each tube 15 during extension and retraction.

The presentations of FIG. 4 explain the principle of eccentricmeasurement of channels leading into and out of the sewer manhole 4. Thechannels 5 which are displaced relative to each other are shown in theirposition relative to the wall 20 of the manhole, and the tachymeter 1 isshown with the tubes 15 in the center of the opening 21 of the sewermanhole.

The left drawing of FIG. 4 shows that only the direction of the channelinlet or outlet can be measured in an orderly fashion. It is notpossible precisely to determine the direction of the channel inlet andchannel outlet 5′.

In order to make such a determination possible, an eccentric cam 22 isassociated with the end piece of the tube 16. The cam 22 is providedwith an opening disposed at a 90° angle relative to the axis of the axisof the cam 22 and providing for a view in the direction 19 of thechannel outlet or input 5′. Advantageously, the eccentric cam 22 is alsotelescopingly mounted so that changes in distance or length in andrelative to individual channel outlets and channel inlets 5′ may bedetermined.

In a structure and arrangement of an eccentric cam 22 of fixed length asshown in the right portion of FIG. 4, the cam 22 is clamped against thetube 16 by a rubber roller. A counter weight at the side of the rubberroller balances the unilaterally acting tilting moment resulting fromthe mass of the eccentric cam 22. Downward tilting of the eccentric cam22 is prevented by a cross-connection with the tube. The reflector 13rigidly mounted on the eccentric cam 22 deflects the homing beam by 90°in a direction depending from the mounting of the eccentric cam 22. Thedirection and size of the deflection must be taken into considerationwhen calculating the horizontal direction of a given channel 5; 5′. Anupward and downward deflection is conceivable and possible. When usingan eccentric cam 22 of variably adjustable length, it is mounted on thetube 16 in an analogous manner. The vertical torque resulting as afunction of the extended length is balanced by counterweights. Shiftingof the counter weights is coupled to the movement extension of theindividual tubes of the eccentric cam 22. Actuation and, thus,initiation of the function of the tubes is also carried outautomatically.

In addition to the vertical shifting by the sighting telescope 2 of thetachymeter 1 of the field of view of a viewer relative to a givenopening 18 of the tube 16 or opening of the eccentric cam 22 a laseremitted from the tachymeter 1 may be deflected and aimed at the positionto be measured. That is to say, if deflected by a reflector system ofthe invention, a laser could be used for measuring distances so that inconnection with a determination of the height and horizontal direction,the three-dimensional position of a reflective point in the channel 5could also be determined.

1. A device for determining the position and direction of channel inletsand channel outlets in sewer manholes which lead into and extend fromthem in a horizontal or slightly inclined plane, characterized by thefact that a profile tube (11) mounted by a frame (10) is associated witha tachymeter (1), with reflectors (13) provided in the interior of theprofile tube (11); the profile tube (11) is structured rectangularly andpenetrates through a recess in, and is rotatably mounted on, the middleconsole (7); the middle console (7) is provided with a tubular extension(23) the axis of which coincides with the stand axis or vertical axis ofthe tachymeter (1) and which by way of a connector is associated with anextension consisting of individual telescopingly connected tubes (15);and the tachymeter (1) with the profile tube (11) and the middle console(7) is arranged on the stand (3) for 360° rotation between the lowerconsole clamped to the tripod (8) and an upper console (24) rigidlyconnected to each other by a latch (9).
 2. The device in accordance withclaim 1, characterized by the fact that the profile tube (11) isstructured to be of square cross-section and consists of individualpartial pieces which may be connected by a plug-in connection and isprovided with an opening (12) disposed in the axial and viewingdirection of the sighting telescope (2) from the tachymeter (1).
 3. Thedevice in accordance with claim 2, characterized by the fact that theindividual tubes (15) are connected relative to each other in atelescoping manner and are provided with a control and a connected driveconsisting of a D.C. motor and a toothed belt, the drive unit beingarranged at the outer tube (15) and the individual tube (15) beingprovided with toothed belts.
 4. The device in accordance with claim 3,characterized by the fact that at its end the smallest innermost tube(16) is provided with a reflector (13) and an exit opening (18) the axisof which is disposed at a right angle to the viewing and stand axis ofthe tachymeter (1) and, hence, in the viewing direction (19) and that atits end the tube (16) is also provided with a light source (17).
 5. Thedevice in accordance with claim 4, characterized by the fact that aneccentric cam (22) is associated with the lower tube (16) andpositionable relative to the exit opening (18) thereof for eccentricmeasurement by an internal reflector (13).
 6. The device in accordancewith claim 5, characterized by the fact that the eccentric cam (22) isstructured to be of fixed or variable length, the variability of thelength of the eccentric cam (22) being provided by telescopinglyconnected and movable partial pieces formed as tubes.
 7. The device inaccordance with claim 6, characterized by the fact that in the viewingdirection of an observer the field of view from the tachymeter (1) isshifted by reflectors (13) parallel to the exit opening (18) of the tube(16) and that a laser is also used for the measurement.